Man About Canton: Dr. Susan Staples

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Dr. Susan Staples, associate professor of mathematics at Texas Christian University (TCU), traces her connections to the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) back to her high school days in Canton, Massachusetts, where the 1980 graduate was a member of the Canton High School math team under math teacher Marty Badoian.

While at CHS, Staples helped the team win the state and New England math championship. She went on to receive a BS in mathematics from the prestigious Case Western Reserve University and a PhD (1988) in mathematics from the University of Michigan in the area of complex analysis. She served ten years as the graduate director of the TCU Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree program in math. She has also authored two books. The first, Counter Examples in Calculus, MAA, was the recipient of the 2010 Outstanding Academic Title Award from Choice Magazine of the American Library Association. Her newest book, published in 2013, titled Paradoxes and Sophisms in Calculus, is intended for high school and university teachers and students and calculus instructors in professional development programs.

In the books’ acknowledgments, Susan thanks her parents, Ralph and Lillian Staples of Canton, for their excitement and enthusiasm for the book from the outset. MAC would also like to congratulate Dr. Susan Staples, the mathematician from Canton High School.

According to the Canton Alumni Association, former Canton High School head football coach and 1932 CHS graduate Charlie Stevenson is the oldest living alumnus. Charlie will celebrate his 100^th birthday on March 16, 2014.

Fox Broadcasting is telling advertisers that commercial time during Super Bowl XLVIII on February 2, 2014, is sold out. The estimated cost for a 30-second ad is between $4 million and $4.5 million.

The state Attorney General’s Office has issued guidelines to Massachusetts towns allowing members of town boards to attend meetings electronically under certain conditions.

Two companies, Middlesex Integrative Medicine, Inc. and the Anita W. Compassion Center, Inc., have entered the final round of 100 in their bids to establish a medical marijuana dispensary in the neighboring town of Norwood. The two companies are considering sites on Route 1 and University Avenue. The state will allow 35 medical marijuana dispensary licenses, including five in Norfolk County.

Talking about marijuana, the Canton police recently made a drug arrest and took an estimated $40,000 worth of marijuana off the streets. Police arrested an out-of-town man in Canton with nine pounds of marijuana. As you can see, marijuana is big business.

In a national survey done by vetstreet.com, the most popular names for a male dog are Max, Buddy, and Charlie while the most popular names for a female dog are Bella, Daisy, and Lucy.

According to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, at least 40 cities and towns in the state have bylaws that prohibit the discharging of firearms in their communities. Canton is one of those towns that prohibit the discharging of firearms.

State Representative Bill Galvin of Canton had a 100 percent roll call attendance record in 2013. Galvin was one of 55 state representatives out of 158 house members who did not miss any of the 279 roll call votes in 2013.

The Canton AAUW Chapter will host noted local author and pedagogical specialist Professor Gary Hylander at its next meeting at 7 p.m. on January 15 at the Canton Public Library. Hylander will entertain the women with his knowledge and wit on the “ladies of the Civil War Era.” The public is invited.

Here is an interesting email that MAC recently received from one of his readers, a resident of Lincoln Street: “Is the town of Canton aware that the old Plymouth Rubber parking lot on Revere Street is a taxi and school bus parking area that has vehicles coming and going many times a day? The town does not want an assisted living facility on that lot because of the traffic? I think they should be made aware of the traffic that is already there, coming and going from early morning to afternoon.” Seems like a good point.

MAC would like to thank the two chiefs, Police Chief Ken Berkowitz and Fire Chief Charlie Doody, for the sample of “Too Many Chiefs.” MAC highly recommends it.

Governor Deval Patrick recently signed a bill that gave the go-ahead for a $5.66 million regional indoor ice staking rink in Norwood.

The Canton Rotary Club donated $1,000 to the Canton Food Pantry.

For all you Boston drivers, the Callahan Tunnel to Logan Airport and to the north shore will be closed from December 23 through March 12.

The University of Notre Dame recently won the 2013 Division 1 men’s soccer championship in Philadelphia. It was the program’s first national championship. In attendance for the finals was Canton Attorney Bill Sullivan, who was one of a number of former players to attend the game. Sullivan played for the Fighting Irish’s first varsity teams in 1977 and 1978, which still hold the NCAA record for consecutive victories at 26.

MAC was saddened to hear of the recent passing of Scott Bernard. Scott passed away far too early at the young age of 51. While the name may not ring a bell, MAC is sure many in Canton have seen him running through town. He was a powerful runner, graceful and accomplished. He ran his first Boston Marathon at age 16 and later ran the 26.2-mile marathon in under two hours and 40 minutes. He always wore his trademark bandanna when running. Scott married and moved to Medfield nine years ago. He wanted to win the Canton Fourth of July five-mile road race where his best finish was second place. MAC sends his condolences to Scott’s family and many friends.

The more you appreciate, the more you have to appreciate.

This is all for now folks. See you next week.

Joe DeFelice can be reached at manaboutcanton@aol.com.

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